Real Oviedo turn down Lens bid for Egypt winger Haissem Hassan

Real Oviedo have rejected a €7.5m offer from French club Lens for Egypt international Haissem Hassan, and will not consider selling for less than €12m, according to reports in Spain.

Journalist Joan Vazquez of the newspaper Independent reported that the Segunda Division side have declined Lens’ proposal for the winger, who has emerged as one of the standout performers for the Egypt national team at the 2026 World Cup.

Oviedo are understood to be holding firm to the €12m release clause in Hassan’s contract and are unwilling to negotiate below that figure.

The Spanish club’s stance is further hardened by a sell-on obligation to his former side Villarreal, who are due to receive 40% of any transfer fee should Hassan leave Oviedo. That condition makes Oviedo determined to secure the full value of the clause before approving a move.

World Cup displays spark transfer interest

Hassan’s performances with Egypt in the United States have significantly raised his profile, despite the team’s early exit from the tournament.

The Real Oviedo winger delivered one of his best displays for the national side in the match against Argentina, setting up Egypt’s second goal and posing a persistent attacking threat. During the same game he was involved in another move that ended with the ball in the net, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review – a decision that generated considerable post-match debate over the officiating.

Egypt were knocked out of the World Cup following their defeat by Argentina, but Hassan’s individual form has attracted attention from several clubs. Those sides have begun making enquiries about his contract situation and the likelihood of a transfer in the current summer window.

Release clause drives Oviedo position

Spanish reports indicate that Oviedo’s refusal to sell for less than €12m is directly linked to the release clause in Hassan’s deal. The club are insisting that any buyer must meet that figure in full, rather than agreeing a discounted fee.

With Villarreal entitled to 40% of any future transfer, Oviedo would see a substantial portion of the income from a sale diverted to the La Liga club, reinforcing their reluctance to accept Lens’ initial €7.5m bid.

At this stage, there is no suggestion that Lens have returned with an improved offer, and Oviedo’s position remains that Hassan will stay unless his clause is triggered.

Key role at club and country

Hassan, who plays predominantly as a winger, has become an important figure for both Real Oviedo and Egypt.

He featured in two matches for Egypt at the 2026 World Cup, directly creating one goal in the defeat by Argentina and contributing to another effort that was ultimately disallowed following intervention from the video assistant referee.

At club level, Hassan played a significant part in Oviedo’s recent promotion to La Liga. However, the team were relegated back to the Spanish second tier after just one season in the top flight.

During the most recent campaign, he made 38 appearances for Oviedo in all competitions, providing three assists but failing to find the net himself.

Despite that modest goalscoring return, his overall impact, World Cup exposure and contractual situation have combined to make him one of the more closely watched players in Spain’s second division this summer, with Oviedo signalling they will only let him leave at a premium price.